Loan watch: Loanees at Darlington and Chesterfield taste defeat

Andrew Milne

Darlington 0-1 Bradford City

Our nineteen year old centre-back made his first appearence for Darlington after being unnamed in their previous fixture. Steve Staunton rung the changes to the side after being destroyed by Notts County (4-0) earlier in the week.

Despite the changes, Darlington’s disastrous run of results continued as a small team from the Leeds suburb of Bradford won the match 1-0. An improved performance in terms of goals conceded, but nonetheless a forth consecutive defeat for Darlington in a match where they were totally outplayed and managed just one shot on target.

Darlington remain bottom of the league having picked up just eight points so far. With a goal difference of minus thirty, things look bleak for Steve Staunton. Whether he can turn things round or not remains to be seem, but either way, this is good match experience for Andrew Milne who played all 90 minutes.

An away trip to 21st place Torquay next for Darlington. If they have any hopes of turning this dreadful run around and escaping relegation, they need to start picking points up there.

Davide Somma

Aldershot 1-0 Chesterfield

Somma was dropped to the bench after last weeks 3-2 defeat at home to mid-table Crewe, but was brought on for the last fifteen minutes and judging by the Aldershot Town official website, may have been unlucky not to get his first goal for the club.

Aldershot’s offical site reports that “substitute David Somma powered his header goal bounds Ruiz was equal to the effort with a spectacular low save stretching to his left. There was certainly life in this match and loanee Somma, who missed a penalty in midweek, looked keen to make amends after his introduction.”

Somma was denied again by the Aldershot keeper late-on, in what appears to have been a very evenly contested tie. Although I’d have been much happier to see our striker start the game, I guess his penalty miss last week went against him. However, he does seem to be making an impression and with more game time, I’m sure he’ll improve.

After todays defeat, Chesterfield sit seventh in the League Two table occupying the final play-off spot. Sounds like things just aren’t running for them at the minute with two penalty misses last week and some good saves from the Aldershot goalkeeper today. Even with the back-to-back defeats though, Chesterfield are still only four points off the automatic places. Their next three games see them take on sides from the bottom half of the division, starting at Cheltenham on Saturday.